Biosphere 2 - Edited

We had heard that Biosphere 2 was a place we had to visit but weren't sure exactly what it was.  Well we are sure glad we decided to put it on our list of things to see.
When I first wrote this blog I couldn't find the brochure we picked up so my factual info was from memory which, for me, is a dangerous thing.  Found the brochure so here it goes again.
Construction for Biosphere 2 was started in 1986 with the original purpose to research and develop self-sustaining space-colonization technology.  The cost was in excess of $150 million and many of the technologies and construction methods had to be developed and perfected during construction as this facility was the first of its kind.  The "Human Missions" took place in 1991-94 and involved 7 scientists who lived full-time for up to 2 years in this self-contained environment.  They conducted experiments about sustainability and environmental impacts to the earth, or as they call it, Biosphere 1.  Scientists continue to conduct experiments in the facility to better understand how natural environments generate conditions appropriate for life.  Apartments have been built to provide accommodations and  Biosphere 2 is now operated by the University of Arizona.  
To ensure there was no outside contamination to the internal environment the whole complex sits on a  500 Ton base made up of a stainless-steel plate sandwiched between 2 concrete slabs.  All entrances are by way of air locked doors to keep the complex as air tight as possible.  In fact the whole place looks very much like a set for a science fiction movie and many of the discoveries made in Biosphere 2 have been used in space exploration.
One of the early findings was that the volume of air in Biosphere expanded during the heat of the day and contracted during the coolness of the nights.  2 large lungs were built which is the domes you see in the pictures.  The inside of the dome contains a large balloon which inflates or deflates depending on the heat or cold of the outside temps.  We exited the structure from one of the lungs and when the 1st door was opened it was like walking into a driving wind storm.  When we exited the 2nd door we were like corks popping out of a champagne bottle.

   
Inside Biosphere 2 you are immediately overwhelmed with information, all of it very interesting, but the sheer volume would take days to absorb.  Each of the large rooms is a separate controlled environment.  The results are quite striking as we walked into a room with tropical humid weather and plants native to that type of climate.  Then we stepped into a rain forest followed by more temperate climates and then to a desert.  They even have an ocean meant to duplicate the environment in the Gulf of California.

 A cross section of a tree with a magnifying glass to count the rings.  No we didn't count them but it was one old tree.

The fossilized remains of a plant.

This place is one huge laboratory.  The glass-enclosed facility is 3.14 acres.  7.2 million cubic feet enclosed under 6500 windows and 91 feet tall at the highest point.  The whole campus is 40 acres consisting of the Biosphere and 300,000 sq ft of administrative offices, classrooms, laboratories, conference facilities and resident and student housing.

Below you can see the water at the bottom of the picture.  This is part of the ocean they created, complete with currents.

The tropical rainforest was simply amazing.  Open the door and we walked into a completely different world.  The trees were so large they were pressing against the roof.  Vines were hanging down everywhere.  The floor of the forest was very dark with little undergrowth because of all the treetop foliage blocking the sun.
Over 90 different plant species call this rainforest home.

 Some more shots showing the walls of the Biosphere.  The trees in the above picture are different varieties of Mangrove trees found growing in the marshes in Florida and Louisiana.

The apartments that have been built to house the scientists are built like a little community and is actually very pretty.

Of course all of this great looking man made stuff is surrounded by the even greater looking mother nature made stuff.  As you may have guessed I just can't get enough of the scenery.

She caught me

 There aren't many broadleaf trees here but the ones we've seen are in full fall colours, like this oak.

The patio outside the restaurant at Biosphere 2.
The food wasn't the greatest but the view was worth a million bucks.

Thats it for Biosphere 2.  Well worth the visit.
I heard a rumour that Sunday there is a little football game being played in the Great White North.  Not that you'd know about it reading the papers down here but we have a Grey Cup party to go to tomorrow.
Later.